Effects of chromium yeast,tributyrin and bile acid on growth performance,digestion and metabolism of Channa argus

A 60‐day feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of chromium yeast (CY), tributyrin (TB) and bile acid (BA) on the snakehead (Channa argus). The control (CT) group was fed the basal diet, and the experimental groups were fed 200 mg/kg CY (concentration: 1,000 mg/kg), 2.5 g/kg TB (purity: 45%) or 1 g/kg BA (purity: 30%) in addition to the basal diet. The addition of CY, TB and BA statistically increased the weight gain rate, and specific growth rate, whereas the feeding rate and feed conversion ratio were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). When compared with the CT group, TB elevated the serum glutathion peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity; and BA reduced low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) contents significantly (p < 0.05). The three feed additives reduced intestinal malonaldehyde (MDA) levels dramatically. Tributyrin significantly enhanced intestinal trypsin and pepsin activities (p < 0.05). The activity of fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase and pyruvate carboxylase in the group fed CY was significantly lower than in the CT group. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of the three additives enhanced growth performance of C. argus. Dietary supplementation of CY affected protein, glucose and lipid metabolism. Diets with TB levels improved intestinal digestive enzyme activity and antioxidant capacity. The addition of BA improved glycolipid metabolism.